Method for seating a gasket in a plastic pipe bell using a hard configured ring

摘要

A method for seating a gasket in a plastic pipe bell is disclosed which includes providing a peripheral groove in a belling mandrel and seating a specially designed hard plastic ring in the groove. The hard plastic ring is molded to provide exterior ramps for forming an annular pocket in the pipe bell and is inwardly configured to provide a secure seating surface to receive and retain a resilient gasket thereon. The mandrel is urged into a preheated end of the pipe and vacuum forces are employed to pull the end of the pipe about the periphery of the mandrel and tightly against the exterior ramps of the hard plastic ring for forming the bell shape. Upon sufficient cooling of the pipe end, the mandrel is withdrawn and the plastic ring remains encapsulated within the bell shape. Upon removal of the mandrel, a resilient gasket is then seated within the bell in intimate overall contact with the seating surface of the plastic ring.